Nymeria gives Mobo a little reprimanding swat after his song.
Attalas seems rather comfortable.
"I like these Bugbears and Goblins, they are the first group we've met that didn't stab me at the first chance!"
The goblins exchange conspirational gazes, then they scurry over to their new king and whisper
Death is bad...is where bugbears live. Danger is good, is where goblins live, both ways lead to Jarl's palace.
The bugbears only exchange a very quick glance, afterwards the bigger one moves next to Attalas and whispers
Danger is bad, is where goblins live. Death is good, is where bugbears live. Both ways lead to the Jarl's palace though.
No decision from Attalas?
"We are both 'Death' and 'Danger' at the same time. Goblins be no problem, we go to Goblin place and say hello. Go to Bugbear house on way back"
So you take the danger path and the goblins cheer and make faces at the bugbears.
The path leads deeper into the gorge and a strong wind comes up that raises the dust and snow and stings into your eyes - but the goblins don't seem to affected, they just wander on and sing happily.
After about an hour small flat huts come into view behind a turn. Red eyes glare at you from every hut, but no one dares to leave the relative saftey of his home. The huts are scattered around a well in the middle of the small village where on a wooden construction human skulls are piled up.
"I felt a sudden wind as if the fates were pushing us along and everything is a blur..."
"See? They hide in their huts out of respect. No death or danger otehr than us"
Jez steps forward and calls out:
King Mobo of the Boomstick Tribe seeks an audience with the leader of this great tribe.
If there is no response, she will repeat this in Abyssal, Draconic and Giant - sorry, no goblin.
Ragnvald turns to the other bugbears seeking answers.
The bugbear yawns and makes a sweeping gesture
Goblins weak and cowardly.
Your goblins have meanwhile scurried over to Mobo and whisper
Tribe not know you, chief Half-Toe-Nearly-Killed-Spider, surely hides in fear.
Upon Jez' call, a fragile, haggard-faced goblin is pushed out of one of the huts, for a second the poor creature seems confused, but then a small shield and a spear with rusty tip are also thrown out of the hut. The goblins grabs his new equipment, blinks twice and shouts back
By accident, cunning, power and fate I'm champion of the village, state your business!
The goblin throws shield and spear away and falls to his knees
Please King Mobo, don't hurt me, I'll be your most loyal follower! Chief Half-Toe-Nearly-Killed-Spider is at the Jarl's palace, he lives there in clover while we have to live in want!
Attalas looks about, not sure what to make of this interaction.
Instead he starts to grip his sword reflexively.
Jez looks down at King Mobo awaiting his response - or interpretation.
Ragnvald prods mobo with his boot.
Jez raises her blade: Onward Boomstick Army.
And starts to head forth in whatever direction the Jarl's place supposedly lies.
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The word about a new chief replacing the useless chief Half-Toe-Nearly-Killed-Spider spreads quickly and after about ten minutes a group of nearly forty very motivated (whatever that means) goblin warriors have assembled at the far side of the village.
The rumour among them is that chief Mobo Boomstick has fallen from the sky right into a pool of sulphurous lava in which he found the mighty boomstick gun and an ogre egg. After the egg was incubated by seven most beautiful (whatever that means) goblin mistresses, Attalas eclosed and became Mobo's most loyal servant.
"I suppose I've heard stranger bouts of pop mythologies..." Ragnvald mutters to himself.
"Way back" Attalas confirms.
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Mobo smiles, lowers his hat, pulls a tindertwig from the depths of his goblin felt, sets it in his teeth and brandishes Boomstick.
Heading onward Mobo begins to sing a battle hymn for his troops,
To capture Bird and Half-Toe!
Will you die? Well, I don't know!
But now it time for fire show!"
"Smash the giants, break their heads!
Torch the humans til they deads!
From his pantry we be feds!
And sleep in Big comfy beds!"
"Grab the snakes and torches too,
The fireworks and sticky glue.
Come on, you know what to do!
Goblin mischief shall ensue!"
Jez hears the song and hums the tune as best she can as she marches next to the newly enthroned King.
Perform(sing): <-- unfortunately her humming really does not help the already scary goblin tune in any way
With an astonishing degree of order (no one picks a fight), the goblins follow their new king and his companions. The narrow path winds up higher into the mountains, up to a clouded peak in the distance.
The closer you get to the looming mountain top, the more nervous your small followers become...After another two hours you have reached a height where snow becomes a permanent companion. The surface of the path is partially frozen and makes the journey much harder...especially when to your left and right a gaping abyss waits for you to slip...
Attalas isn't very happy with clambering around icy and treacherous terrain without proper equipment, and strips his armour before wandering across certain death. "I seem to have to spend more time out of me armour than in it!"
Acrobatics
Jez is cheerfully marching on completely oblivious to the danger about her.
Acrobatics:
Kosti is too nervous about his company, especially the new goblin warband, to keep his eyes on the treacherous way. Still, he manages to get across - barely.
Acrobatics:
Nymeria makes it across safely, but is a little worried about the route they've chosen...
Only Ragnvald left.
ACrobatics.
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After the party has crossed the slippery part of the path, the goblins follow...sadly, big numbers are often accompanied by a certain degree of misfortune in such situations and all in all you hear a "IIIIIEEEEEK" or "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH" more than once....but still, 38 of your stalwart henchmen make it to the other side.
The question now is if you try to reach the Jarl's home today, most probably arriving at night, or do you wait until tomorrow?
"My feet hurt. Are we still walking?"
Jez seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that the cold weather is adversely affecting her companions. (Probably due to being resistant to cold).
Most all of us can see well in the dark, we can proceed or rest and then visit with the Jarl in the morning. I think moving forward and avoiding another night would be preferable.
"Yes." Ragnvald says trudging ahead.
The darkness is not nearly as dark as it was while you travelled through the forest. The snow covering the mountain ridge reflects so much of the moon light that you can nearly see as well as during the day.
After another four exhausting hours of travelling upwards, you reach a massive wall of ice. The glacial monument reaches a height of nearly 100 ft. and its icy surface glitters and sparkles in the nocturnal light of the moon.
Jaws agape the goblins stare at the wall unable to say anything...all goblins except "Komasn Damngut" who points at the wall and says Opening there! - and he is right, there is a large gap in the wall leading inside - what a clever goblin he is...
no one answers Mobo?
Let's send a scout?
Jez looks over at the elf: Who do you want to send in to this fortress? We know nothing about it.